Russia launched a large-scale overnight aerial assault across Ukraine as U.S.–Ukraine talks in Florida entered their third day, striking critical infrastructure and intensifying pressure on Kyiv amid stalled diplomatic efforts. Ukrainian authorities said Russia fired 653 drones and 51 missiles, the vast majority of which were intercepted. One strike hit a major railway hub in Fastiv, southwest of Kyiv, destroying the main station building and damaging several locomotives. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack "meaningless from a military point of view," saying Russia was fully aware the strikes would have no strategic effect. The bombardment comes as U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators push Moscow to demonstrate a "serious commitment to long-term peace" following a meeting in Moscow earlier this week that produced no breakthrough. Russia has sharply escalated attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in recent weeks. On Saturday, Ukraine's energy ministry reported strikes on facilities in eight regions, triggering widespread blackouts. The UN nuclear watchdog said the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant temporarily lost all external power overnight. Russia's defense ministry said the barrage was a "massive strike" in response to what it described as Ukrainian attacks on civilian targets — an accusation Kyiv rejects. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the strikes showed Russia was ignoring all peace efforts. "No decisions to strengthen Ukraine and raise pressure on Russia can be delayed," he wrote. In Florida, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian national security chief Rustem Umerov said two days of talks had been "constructive," reaching agreement on a framework of security arrangements aimed at sustaining a long-term peace. Details were not disclosed. The talks are also attended by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. The Ukrainian delegation was briefed on Witkoff's nearly five-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this week. The Kremlin said "no compromise" was reached on the draft U.S. peace proposal, though Putin signaled readiness to continue discussions "as many times as needed." Zelensky said he was awaiting full details from the U.S. side, noting that Kyiv had pushed for revisions to the initial peace plan, viewed by allies as overly favorable to Moscow. The updated version has not been made public. Major sticking points remain, including security guarantees for Ukraine and questions over territorial concessions. Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine, including large parts of the Donbas region. In an interview with India Today, Putin warned Ukrainian troops to withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk or face military force, saying Russia would "liberate these territories by force." Kyiv maintains that lasting security requires either NATO membership or strong international guarantees. Russia vehemently opposes Ukrainian accession to NATO, and Trump has repeatedly signaled he would block it. The Kremlin said the NATO question was a "key topic" during this week's Moscow talks. Trump described the discussions as "reasonably good" but cautioned that "it does take two to tango." — Agencies
